Drinking Coffee While Intermittent Fasting—Okay, Or No?

Trying to lose weight just for the sake of shedding off some heavy pounds or trying to lose weight just for the purpose of health through dieting results in many food restrictions. One of the most common ways people try to lose weight is through intermittent fasting. But how far should we go when we fast? Are we restricted in drinking coffee too? I found this really interesting article on coffee and intermittent fasting.

Let’s go directly to the point. Can you drink coffee when you’re fasting?

You’re allowed to have coffee during the hours when you’re fasting…but there’s a catch.

You can drink coffee while you are fasting for as long as its black. Pure natural brewed coffee is not going to mess up your diet at all, but in fact, may even add-in to your source of strength and antioxidants. However, before we go further, what exactly is intermittent fasting? Why is it such a hype?

What is Intermittent fasting?

Based on the name itself, you enter regulated, alternating cycles of eating and fasting. It’s a growing trend that allows women to lose weight and even stay healthier.

Why is it so popular?

Women and men are very particular about entering an easier way to lose weight without sacrificing much of our preferred meals. Moreover, intermittent fasting seems to be a quick solution. That’s because you are not limited to what you eat and how much calories you’re going to take. But rather, you are only setting a specific time on WHEN you’re going to eat.

Intermittent fasting also has one perk; it’s very easy to do. It’s just a matter of controlling your urges to eat. When we sleep, we are already fasting. And this type of diet is simply extending that fast. You set hours where you’re going to eat and set limitations on the time you’re going to eat.

How is it done?

One of the most popular ways of intermittent fasting is the 16/8 method. You fast for 16 hours and have an eating window of eight hours. One of the most common ways you can implement this is by skipping breakfast and start eating at around noon. Your last meal is also set at 8 P.M. You can consume any food you want within your eating window but it also sets restrictions like limiting the amount of food you eat every time.

Can 16/8 IF really get the job done?

This is hailed as the magic number for IF, but little research supports this claim. However, many believe in the power of IF and swear by the 16/8 as a magic recipe in losing weight. On a keto perspective, IF is a good start to getting your body used to the change in your diet. Keto is very strict when it comes to the percentage or what type of food you eat. And this percentage affects your state of ketosis. There is no actual magic in IF, but it is one method where we put ourselves in a state where our body does not process any food or carbohydrates from the food we eat but instead burn down our fats.

What can I consume when I’m fasting?

Fasting literally means not taking any form of food in our body. Food involves any type of meal or drink that has sweets, calories, and other types of additives that your body will process like food. So the only thing you can take during your fast is zero-calorie, zero-fat, and zero-sugar. And luckily, three of our favorite drinks fall under that category: water, tea, and coffee.

BUT there’s a catch. Coffee and tea are only zero-fat and sugar if it doesn’t have any additives in it like sugar, creamer, milk, or other flavorings.

How does coffee help in IF?

Coffee is technically gold for IF because it is rich in antioxidants. Plus it also helps in speeding up your metabolism. Coffee is a wonder drink that is full of minerals that your body needs. And when you’re fasting, your body absorbs more of these benefits than you can imagine.

When you think about it, black coffee is like drinking flavored water. But if you brew your coffee just right, you hit not just the satisfaction of your noses but also the full benefit of enjoying a drink while you’re trying to hold out on eating. Pure black coffee is also a good drink to take when you’re trying not to screw up your weight loss regimen.